Courtesy National Academy Museum

Frederic Edwin Church's "Scene on the Magdalene" (1854), one of two paintings the National Academy deaccessioned to help pay for operating expenses

Sanford Robinson Gifford Frederic Edwin Church Museums Send Art to Auction Auction Action: 1979–1988 American Paintings River Stories The Art of Cutting Back National Academy Deaccession Brings Internal Conflicts to Light

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Last December, news broke that the National Academy was selling two works from its collection — Scene on the Magdalene (1854) by Frederic Edwin Church and Mt. Mansfield (1859) by Sanford Robinson Gifford — in order to offset an operations budget deficit. The museum reportedly also considered selling other pieces.

The AAMD replied with a strongly worded statement. “It is... a fundamental professional principle that works can only be deaccessioned to provide funds to acquire works of art and enhance a museum’s collection,” it read. “The National Academy is now breaching one of the most basic and important of AAMD’s principles by treating its collection as a financial asset, rather than the cornerstone of research, exhibition, and public programming, a record of human creativity held in trust for people now and in the future.”

“We have no choice but to censure the National Academy for this action,” the statement concluded. And according to the AAMD’s code of ethics, all members were called on to suspend loans of works of art to the institution as well as any ongoing collaborations.

In the months since, the censure has held up. “There are no AAMD members who are lending to us or borrowing from us,” said Branagan. However, the AAMD has expressed willingness to “revisit its decision.”

Of next week’s meeting, Branagan said, “I actually see this as an opportunity to set things right at the Academy and also to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the AAMD about being a proactive advocate for museums.”